In this section we will unveil some secrets on 'how to'. A look into 'the kitchen' of The Warbird Factory. We will
introduce you to the "how to" build a model that will really convince yourself and others, giving you the utmost
satisfaction as a (beginning) modeler. The model you build should first convince yourself, otherwise no one
else will be convinced by it!
We concentrate on aircraft modeling, but the basic techniques can be applied on building armor, cars and
ships as well as historic figures and dioramas.
How to choose a model? What paints are best... enamels or acrylic paints? How to use an airbrush? Working
with after-market materials like resin and decals. Should I use super glue or the good old tube? Where to buy
my models and materials? Many questions that may come up when you start modeling.
We will discuss the following issues in detail:
1. Defining the project and obtaining reference materials
2. Preparing a workbench and gathering the tools
3. Filling & Sanding
4. Building and painting
5. Decaling and finishing (weathering techniques)
6. Airbrushing
1. DEFINING THE PROJECT
You have to make a decision of which plane you are going to build. Literally thousands of model kits are for
sale and when you have become a skilled modeler you can even scratch build your own model. You can save
postage if you buy some models at the same time in an Internet Webstore. Some people like World War II
planes whereas others (like me) prefer jets. When you have made a choice, you should choose the scale you
are going to build your model in. There are many scales for aircraft models from 1/144 upto 1/24. I myself
particularly prefer 1/48 and 1/32 as in these scales you can detail a lot and they result in impressive big 'birds'.
The Internet helps you furnishing a huge almost unlimited resource of information. You can obtain many
reference photos and drawings. Especially so called walk-around photos are useful. These are photos that
give an idea of how a specific part of an a plane looks like.
There is another way of getting very good reference material: by buying a walk-around book. These contain
detail photos of all parts of the aircraft you are building. I always love to get me some reference magazines as
part of my project. You can even get after market decals that depict exactly the plane you might have seen in
your reference material. Also you can make your own decals using blank decal sheets and a ink-jet printer.
Also a good idea is spending some time going to a good air museum. Nothing better than the real thing! You
can make as many photos as you like there. On my trips I always like to visit some aircraft on display. For
example The National Air & Space museum (Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center) near Washington Dulles Airport or
the U.S.S. Intrepid Sea, Air & Space museum in New York city. But also if you are a country boy or girl, there
are always great reference subjects 'near' you. Perhaps a local airport, Air Force bases (with open days),
museums, aircraft grave yards etc.
introduce you to the "how to" build a model that will really convince yourself and others, giving you the utmost
satisfaction as a (beginning) modeler. The model you build should first convince yourself, otherwise no one
else will be convinced by it!
We concentrate on aircraft modeling, but the basic techniques can be applied on building armor, cars and
ships as well as historic figures and dioramas.
How to choose a model? What paints are best... enamels or acrylic paints? How to use an airbrush? Working
with after-market materials like resin and decals. Should I use super glue or the good old tube? Where to buy
my models and materials? Many questions that may come up when you start modeling.
We will discuss the following issues in detail:
1. Defining the project and obtaining reference materials
2. Preparing a workbench and gathering the tools
3. Filling & Sanding
4. Building and painting
5. Decaling and finishing (weathering techniques)
6. Airbrushing
1. DEFINING THE PROJECT
You have to make a decision of which plane you are going to build. Literally thousands of model kits are for
sale and when you have become a skilled modeler you can even scratch build your own model. You can save
postage if you buy some models at the same time in an Internet Webstore. Some people like World War II
planes whereas others (like me) prefer jets. When you have made a choice, you should choose the scale you
are going to build your model in. There are many scales for aircraft models from 1/144 upto 1/24. I myself
particularly prefer 1/48 and 1/32 as in these scales you can detail a lot and they result in impressive big 'birds'.
The Internet helps you furnishing a huge almost unlimited resource of information. You can obtain many
reference photos and drawings. Especially so called walk-around photos are useful. These are photos that
give an idea of how a specific part of an a plane looks like.
There is another way of getting very good reference material: by buying a walk-around book. These contain
detail photos of all parts of the aircraft you are building. I always love to get me some reference magazines as
part of my project. You can even get after market decals that depict exactly the plane you might have seen in
your reference material. Also you can make your own decals using blank decal sheets and a ink-jet printer.
Also a good idea is spending some time going to a good air museum. Nothing better than the real thing! You
can make as many photos as you like there. On my trips I always like to visit some aircraft on display. For
example The National Air & Space museum (Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center) near Washington Dulles Airport or
the U.S.S. Intrepid Sea, Air & Space museum in New York city. But also if you are a country boy or girl, there
are always great reference subjects 'near' you. Perhaps a local airport, Air Force bases (with open days),
museums, aircraft grave yards etc.
Build it Yourself...
F-104G at the MLM museum, Soesterberg, Netherlands
2. PREPARING A WORKBENCH AND GATHERING THE TOOLS
Your workbench can be your computer desk or even your kitchen table. That's how I started actually. I used to
put a newspaper on the table and just started building. But keep in mind that food and drinks do not go well
with the chemical stuff you're using when you are building. Think of thinners for enamels and poly cement.
Therefore some (your wife?) might think that you should do your hobby in a place where you aren't in contact
with food.
Nowadays I have a dedicated workbench with an airbrush compressor and spray booth on the top floor of our
small apartment in the middle of Amsterdam. The sun goes under on my right side and with my window open I
even get myself a tan in the summer. It's a place where I like to be. A place where I have my meditative
moments... For me modeling is relaxing. Here I rule and I am in my world like a young boy again.
If you're married, like I am, make an agenda and have your family/love times with your wife but reserve some
weekly time to build on your models. Modeling takes time and it's so sad to see people quitting their hobby
because of ' lack of time'. Planning and making an agenda does it. Important is not the amount of time but the
continuity of modeling. Finish your projects!
Your workbench can be your computer desk or even your kitchen table. That's how I started actually. I used to
put a newspaper on the table and just started building. But keep in mind that food and drinks do not go well
with the chemical stuff you're using when you are building. Think of thinners for enamels and poly cement.
Therefore some (your wife?) might think that you should do your hobby in a place where you aren't in contact
with food.
Nowadays I have a dedicated workbench with an airbrush compressor and spray booth on the top floor of our
small apartment in the middle of Amsterdam. The sun goes under on my right side and with my window open I
even get myself a tan in the summer. It's a place where I like to be. A place where I have my meditative
moments... For me modeling is relaxing. Here I rule and I am in my world like a young boy again.
If you're married, like I am, make an agenda and have your family/love times with your wife but reserve some
weekly time to build on your models. Modeling takes time and it's so sad to see people quitting their hobby
because of ' lack of time'. Planning and making an agenda does it. Important is not the amount of time but the
continuity of modeling. Finish your projects!
" Enola Gay" at The National Air & Space museum, Washington
Very important is an easy support to hook your airbrush on rapidly.Use your imagination to make tools and
utilities adjusted to your own situation. This is a Badger Crescendo 175 airbrush. Widely available in the
US. There are many brands and types. They all work more or less the same. It's better to get yourself a so
called "double-action" airbrush as you can control better the flow of paint with this type. Refer to the
"Airbrushing section" for more info on this topic.
utilities adjusted to your own situation. This is a Badger Crescendo 175 airbrush. Widely available in the
US. There are many brands and types. They all work more or less the same. It's better to get yourself a so
called "double-action" airbrush as you can control better the flow of paint with this type. Refer to the
"Airbrushing section" for more info on this topic.
Philips Senseo Coffee machine
Sparmax (Revell - Master Class) Airbrush compressor
Lots of light!! Cheap TL but oh so effective. You can see
here the glass plate I have put on the table to work on.
Any spoiled paint can be easily removed. Also very easy
for cutting masking tape.
The small aluminium trays are used cat food packings,
ideal for organizing small parts. I use a hairdryer (left) to
quick-dry paint and glue.
The greenish mat is a Tamiya A3 cutting mat. It gives a
very relaxing underground to work on.
here the glass plate I have put on the table to work on.
Any spoiled paint can be easily removed. Also very easy
for cutting masking tape.
The small aluminium trays are used cat food packings,
ideal for organizing small parts. I use a hairdryer (left) to
quick-dry paint and glue.
The greenish mat is a Tamiya A3 cutting mat. It gives a
very relaxing underground to work on.
Paint booth with (kitchen)exhauster
Detail photos like the one here are
important as reference material. You
could print them on paper and put
them on a clipboard or pinboard near
your workbench. If you have your PC
near your workbench, you just put
them on the screen when needed. This
photo was taken of the Super Tomcat
on the USS Intrepid in New York on
one of my trips to the US.
important as reference material. You
could print them on paper and put
them on a clipboard or pinboard near
your workbench. If you have your PC
near your workbench, you just put
them on the screen when needed. This
photo was taken of the Super Tomcat
on the USS Intrepid in New York on
one of my trips to the US.
I think it is fun to make a workbench that meet all my needs. I have used a lot of materials that I normally would
have thrown in the trash but have become very useful in my slice of heaven called "The Warbird Factory" on the
top floor of our apartment in Amsterdam.
A paper clip can be used for many applications, as a tooth pick can etc. Cocktail mixers turn into paint mixers and
packing materials into handy recipients. Plastic modeling can be as cheap or as expensive as you wish.
have thrown in the trash but have become very useful in my slice of heaven called "The Warbird Factory" on the
top floor of our apartment in Amsterdam.
A paper clip can be used for many applications, as a tooth pick can etc. Cocktail mixers turn into paint mixers and
packing materials into handy recipients. Plastic modeling can be as cheap or as expensive as you wish.
If you have the space in your home,
dedicate an area to be your
workbench. Keep small children and
pets out. Put a photo frame of your
wife / friend there and make it a
pleasant place to be.
I have even put a coffee maker there. I
know that some guys have TV/DVD /
HiFi and fridges installed. Do what you
like, it's your hobby!
Got my lap-top computer to hook on
the Internet for my comms and
reference searches.
dedicate an area to be your
workbench. Keep small children and
pets out. Put a photo frame of your
wife / friend there and make it a
pleasant place to be.
I have even put a coffee maker there. I
know that some guys have TV/DVD /
HiFi and fridges installed. Do what you
like, it's your hobby!
Got my lap-top computer to hook on
the Internet for my comms and
reference searches.
This page is under construction... to be continued
An airbrush is quite
an investment. A
good compressor
can be home made
(see below) or like
this one be bought
ready-to-use.
If you really like
modeling it will be
one of the best
investments you can
make.
an investment. A
good compressor
can be home made
(see below) or like
this one be bought
ready-to-use.
If you really like
modeling it will be
one of the best
investments you can
make.
Safety first. A paint booth is very useful. The fumes that come off white spirit, cements and paints can be hazardous. An exhauster can expel the
toxic gases out. Even then I prefer to wear a mask. The type of mask you should use is the brown band filter. For specific information about this get
info at your hardware store. For my mask including filter I paid US$ 67.50 but that's expensive, check eBay for better prices..
toxic gases out. Even then I prefer to wear a mask. The type of mask you should use is the brown band filter. For specific information about this get
info at your hardware store. For my mask including filter I paid US$ 67.50 but that's expensive, check eBay for better prices..
This was my first compressor. It's a self-made type. I used to live in Porto Alegre,
Brazil and bought this very nice compressor at the local modeling store (Hobbycraft
www.hobbycraft.com.br) You're welcome Flávio.
Brazil and bought this very nice compressor at the local modeling store (Hobbycraft
www.hobbycraft.com.br) You're welcome Flávio.
This is me, wearing my mask.
As you can see on the photos I have
put a glass plate on my desk. This has
a lot of advantages. It does not absorb
paint, glue etc. and is therefor easy to
clean.
It's great for cutting masking tape and
you can put photos under it of your
family, friends or like me: warbirds!
put a glass plate on my desk. This has
a lot of advantages. It does not absorb
paint, glue etc. and is therefor easy to
clean.
It's great for cutting masking tape and
you can put photos under it of your
family, friends or like me: warbirds!
Some wooden board is also useful for when you are drilling and need some softer material to absorb the pointy
drill. Further I use polyether foam plates (the type of foam that is used in matrasses). This is very handy to put
your model on. It's soft and protects your model of scratching. I use carton plates to stick small pieces on with
double faced tape to be painted.
What is really essential to build a model?
1. side cutter for plastic
2. polystyrene cement
3. sand paper 400, 800 and 1000 grid
4. brushes
5. paint and white spirit
6. hobby knife
7. plastic model kit
My work bench has become quite comprehensive through the years, but you see, to start yours you just need a
US$ 25 investment.
drill. Further I use polyether foam plates (the type of foam that is used in matrasses). This is very handy to put
your model on. It's soft and protects your model of scratching. I use carton plates to stick small pieces on with
double faced tape to be painted.
What is really essential to build a model?
1. side cutter for plastic
2. polystyrene cement
3. sand paper 400, 800 and 1000 grid
4. brushes
5. paint and white spirit
6. hobby knife
7. plastic model kit
My work bench has become quite comprehensive through the years, but you see, to start yours you just need a
US$ 25 investment.
Iwata profissional airbrush on it's
stand (left) and in action (right).
Expensive but with an incredible result.
See the various manners of applying
pieces of carton.
stand (left) and in action (right).
Expensive but with an incredible result.
See the various manners of applying
pieces of carton.
My window with the old tree
in front of our apartment in old
Amsterdam West
in front of our apartment in old
Amsterdam West
Various cutters - essential is the side cutter for plastic. There are four here;
(from left to the right: the yellow, red and two black) one is enough.
(from left to the right: the yellow, red and two black) one is enough.
| Micro drill in action to make those small holes in soft polystyrene This is a Tamiya tool. |
Hobby knifes
| Nothing better than the real thing. A real Royal Dutch Air Force F-104G. And right the real B-29 Nuclear bomber "Enola Gay". |
